Alaska: Prekindergarten Standards

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AK.4. Performance / Content Standard: Cognition and General Knowledge

  • 4.45. Grade Level Expectation: Social Studies - History

    Children differentiate between events that happen in the past, present, and future.

    • 4.45.1. Grade Level Example:

      Retells a more complex story or event in somewhat sequential order

    • 4.45.2. Grade Level Example:

      Begins to use the vocabulary for days of the week and names of the months

    • 4.45.3. Grade Level Example:

      Describes events or objects from his/her personal or family history

    • 4.45.4. Grade Level Example:

      Begins to understand that people in the past lived differently than people do today

    • 4.45.5. Grade Level Example:

      Uses the future tense to discuss plans

    • 4.45.6. Grade Level Example:

      Progresses in understanding similarities and respecting differences among people, such as genders, race, special needs, culture, language, and family structures

    • 4.45.7. Grade Level Example:

      Recognizes pictures of parents or grandparents when they were young.

  • 4.46. Grade Level Expectation: Social Studies - Geography

    Children demonstrate awareness of location and spatial relationships.

    • 4.46.1. Grade Level Example:

      Talks about location using appropriate vocabulary (e.g., near/far, over/under, next to)

    • 4.46.2. Grade Level Example:

      Describes some concepts of distance or space (e.g., knows it's far to Grandpa's house)

    • 4.46.3. Grade Level Example:

      Recognizes that real places can be represented with symbols

  • 4.47. Grade Level Expectation: Social Studies - Geography

    Children demonstrate knowledge of the relationship between people, places, and regions.

    • 4.47.1. Grade Level Example:

      Describes some physical characteristics (e.g., bodies of water, mountains, weather) and some of the social characteristics of the corresponding communities (e.g., types of shelter, clothing, food, jobs)

    • 4.47.2. Grade Level Example:

      Helps to navigate on journeys (e.g., 'After you pass the big red barn, then my house is next.' Or 'I live by the bus stop.')

    • 4.47.3. Grade Level Example:

      Understands that there are different places that people live

  • 4.48. Grade Level Expectation: Social Studies - Economics

    Children demonstrate awareness of economic concepts.

    • 4.48.1. Grade Level Example:

      Realizes that making one choice means that you may not be able to do something else

    • 4.48.2. Grade Level Example:

      Recognizes that people rely on others for goods and services

    • 4.48.3. Grade Level Example:

      Understands the concept of saving resources for use in the future

    • 4.48.4. Grade Level Example:

      Accurately names some coins and money bills (e.g., penny, nickel, dollar bill)

    • 4.48.5. Grade Level Example:

      Recognizes that some things are owned by people and other things are collective goods

    • 4.48.6. Grade Level Example:

      Demonstrates understanding that coins of different sizes and colors have different names

  • 4.49. Grade Level Expectation: Social Studies - Ecology

    Children demonstrate awareness of the relationship between humans and the environment.

    • 4.49.1. Grade Level Example:

      Recognizes, with adult support and guidance, how people can take care of the earth's limited resources or damage the earth

    • 4.49.2. Grade Level Example:

      Exhibits simple concepts of conservation (e.g., uses paper judiciously, does not waste water)

    • 4.49.3. Grade Level Example:

      Shows interest in understanding how animals gather and store food, sleep, and live

  • 4.50. Grade Level Expectation: Social Studies - Technology

    Children use technology appropriately.

    • 4.50.1. Grade Level Example:

      Identifies ways in which technology helps people accomplish specific tasks (e.g., 'The wheelchair helps Alfonso get from one place to another.' 'E-mail lets you communicate with your friend Qavvik who lives far away.')

    • 4.50.2. Grade Level Example:

      Identifies alternate ways of doing things with and without technology (e.g., can use hands or dishwasher to clean dishes; can travel by foot or by car)

    • 4.50.3. Grade Level Example:

      Considers, with adult guidance, what it must have been like to live without technology in an earlier time

    • 4.50.4. Grade Level Example:

      Uses computer for simple 'point and click' operations on child-appropriate Web sites or software

  • 4.51. Grade Level Expectation: Family, Community, and Culture - Family

    Children demonstrate awareness of family characteristics and functions.

    • 4.51.1. Grade Level Example:

      Recognizes extended family members (e.g., cousins, aunts, uncles)

    • 4.51.2. Grade Level Example:

      Talks about how other children have different family compositions other than own

  • 4.52. Grade Level Expectation: Family, Community, and Culture - Community

    Children demonstrate awareness of their community, human interdependence, and social roles.

    • 4.52.1. Grade Level Example:

      Recognizes others' capabilities in specific areas (e.g., 'That woman is good at fixing cars.')

    • 4.52.2. Grade Level Example:

      Identifies some types of jobs and some of the tools used to perform those jobs

    • 4.52.3. Grade Level Example:

      Demonstrates an understanding of social behavior and personal responsibility as a member of a group (e.g., 'If you put away the toys, then I'll clean up the art table.')

  • 4.53. Grade Level Expectation: Family, Community, and Culture - Community

    Children demonstrate civic responsibility.

    • 4.53.1. Grade Level Example:

      Exhibits positive citizenship behaviors by sharing, taking turns, following rules, and taking responsibility for classroom jobs

    • 4.53.2. Grade Level Example:

      Participates in democratic group processes as a way of making choices (e.g., voting or discussion)

    • 4.53.3. Grade Level Example:

      Demonstrates awareness for the reasons for rules and laws

    • 4.53.4. Grade Level Example:

      Exhibits personal responsibility, choice, and leadership in the context of self-help skills and duties/roles that benefit the family or class

    • 4.53.5. Grade Level Example:

      Participates in community events that promote interdependence, with assistance

  • 4.54. Grade Level Expectation: Family, Community, and Culture - Culture

    Children demonstrate awareness and appreciation of their own and others' cultures.

    • 4.54.1. Grade Level Example:

      Talks about, compares, and explores similarities and differences in daily practices across cultures

    • 4.54.2. Grade Level Example:

      Expresses understanding about other children's cultures through conversations, dramatic play, interactions, and items from home

    • 4.54.3. Grade Level Example:

      Recognizes and celebrates similarities and differences between people of different cultures

    • 4.54.4. Grade Level Example:

      Recognizes stereotypes and culturally or linguistically unfair or biased behavior

Arizona: Prekindergarten Standards

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AZ.1. Strand: Social Studies Standard - American History

  • 1.1. Concept / Standard: Research Skills

    The child demonstrates an understanding that information can be obtained from a variety of sources to answer questions about one's life.

    • 1.1.a. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

      Child seeks information from a variety of sources (i.e. people, books, videos, globes, maps, calendars, etc.).

    • 1.1.b. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

      Child relates past events with current events or activities.

    • 1.1.c. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

      Child uses time related words such as yesterday/today/tomorrow.

    • 1.1.d. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

      Child demonstrates awareness of technology and how it is used to get information.

  • AZ.2. Strand: Social Studies Standard - World History

    • 2.1. Concept / Standard: Diversity (Contemporary World)

      The child recognizes that he lives in a place with many people, and that there are people and events in other parts of the world.

      • 2.1.a. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child recognizes that places where people live are made up of individuals from different cultures and who speak different languages.

      • 2.1.b. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child discusses and asks questions about similarities and differences in other people.

      • 2.1.c. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child discusses events happening in her/his neighborhood or other parts of the world.

      • 2.1.d. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child describes some characteristics (e.g. clothing, food, jobs) of the people in his/her community.

  • AZ.3. Strand: Social Studies Standard - Civics/Government

    • 3.1. Concept / Standard: Rights, Responsibilities and Roles of Citizenship

      The child demonstrates a sense of belonging to the community and contributes to its care.

      • 3.1.a. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child demonstrates responsible behaviors.

      • 3.1.b. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child shows an understanding of how to care for the environment.

      • 3.1.c. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child recognizes the importance of his/her role as part of a group.

      • 3.1.d. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child demonstrates choice by voting.

  • AZ.4. Strand: Social Studies Standard - Geography

    • 4.1. Concept / Standard: The World in Spatial Terms

      The child demonstrates an awareness of location and spatial relationships.

      • 4.1.a. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child uses words to describe directionality and/or location.

      • 4.1.b. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child names the city/state in which he/she lives.

      • 4.1.c. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child describes some physical features (e.g. bodies of water, mountains, weather) of the environment in which he/she lives.

    • 4.2. Concept / Standard: Family Identity (Human Systems)

      The child recognizes self as a member of a family.

      • 4.2.a. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child views self as a member of the family unit.

      • 4.2.b. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child can identify family members (mother, father, sister, brother, grandparents, cousins, etc).

      • 4.2.c. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child describes/discusses own family's cultural or family traditions.

      • 4.2.d. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child identifies similarities and differences in her family composition and the families of others.

      • 4.2.e. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child shows knowledge of family members' roles and responsibilities in the home.

  • AZ.5. Strand: Social Studies Standard - Economics

    • 5.1. Concept / Standard: Foundations of Economics

      The child demonstrates knowledge of the interactions between people, resources, and regions.

      • 5.1.a. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child demonstrates awareness that money is used to purchase goods and services.

      • 5.1.b. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child shows an understanding that adults work to earn money to buy things such as groceries.

      • 5.1.c. Performance Objective / Proficiency Level:

        Child recognizes that people rely on others for goods and services such as farm goods, mail delivery, safety or health care.

  • Jennifer Orr Wins ISTE Kay L. Bitter Vision Award

    Date Published
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    Photo, Jennifer Orr, May 3, 2012, Teachinghistory.org
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    Congratulations to Jennifer Orr, 1st-grade teacher at Annandale Terrace Elementary, Annandale, VA, and writer and Teacher Representative for Teachinghistory.org! On Sunday, June 24, she received the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)'s Kay L. Bitter Vision Award for Excellence in Technology-Based PreK–2 Education. The award recognizes a PreK–2 educator whose work has had "a significant positive impact on technology use in education."

    Orr, a National Board Certified Teacher, came to teaching early elementary after teaching fourth and fifth grades. Passionate about using technology in the classroom, Orr met the challenge of finding innovative ways to use digital tools with her new, younger, often preliterate students. While upper elementary students could jump into blogging, creating Wikis, and using other tools that require strong reading and writing skills, first-graders needed a different approach.

    Orr met the challenge of finding innovative ways to use digital tools with her new, younger, often preliterate students.

    ". . . the most critical thing for me as a teacher is connections," says Orr. "Technology offers my students connections that I could never provide them. They can connect with learners around the world, with content about anything, and with experts in any field." Orr finds ways for her first-graders to make these connections using tools like VoiceThread, Wallwisher and PrimaryWall, pocket camcorders, digital cameras, an interactive whiteboard, and video creation programs. She blogs about her experiences at her blog, Elementary, My Dear, or Far From It, and here at Teachinghistory.org. You can watch her in the classroom and in DC with her students in Beyond the Chalkboard.

    Orr appreciates that ISTE offers an award recognizing the challenges of bringing technology into the early elementary classroom. "Previous winners are women I immensely respect, many of whom have served as mentors to me as I transitioned to teaching primary," says Orr. "I feel so honored to join them in this."

    Minnesota's Prekindergarten Standards

    Article Body
    • MN.5. Content Standard: Cognitive Development
      • 5.3. Performance Indicator: Social Systems Understanding
        • 5.3.1. Grade Level Example: Human Relationships Recognize and appreciate similarities and differences between self and others from diverse backgrounds.
        • 5.3.2. Grade Level Example: Human Relationships Understand various family roles, jobs, rules, and relationships.
        • 5.3.3. Grade Level Example: Human Relationships Participate in activities to help others in the community.
        • 5.3.4. Grade Level Example: Understanding the World Recognize and describe the roles of workers in the community.
        • 5.3.5. Grade Level Example: Understanding the World Share responsibility in taking care of their environment.
        • 5.3.6. Grade Level Example: Understanding the World Begin to recall recent and past events.
        • 5.3.7. Grade Level Example: Understanding the World Identify characteristics of the places where they live and play within their community.
        • 5.3.8. Grade Level Example: Understanding the World Begin to understand the uses of media and technology and how they affect their lives.